Oregon's Largest Ca$h Crop

After reading The Oregonian's (online) editorial, "Oregon pot legalization hard to take seriously" (July 29) all I could do was shake my head and ask, "Seriously? Is that your best argument?" Additionally, Susan Nielsen's same day op-ed, a real hand-wringer, does nothing to bolster the board's opinion but instead asks the same tired question: "Who will keep our children safe?" Oh, horrors! It's Reefer Madness all over again!

Fortunately, the commentary on Oregonlive.com regarding Measure 80--Cannabis Tax Act--gives me great hope that a majority of Oregonians will see this initiative petition for what it is: a step in the right direction.

The staggering statistics from alcohol- and tobacco-related deaths and injuries don't lie. No argument against marijuana legalization will ever trump those numbers as the true cost to health and human services continues to skyrocket. Thinking individuals already understand this. Measure 80 would devote 1% to schools for drug education. Does the OLCC and/or the tobacco industry do likewise?

Furthermore, the editorial's concern, having cannabis growers or others in the industry on the board of commissioners, is laughable given that PERS is overseen by public employees just as other state boards like medical and forestry consist of same-industry members.

The only true farce is that our state's largest newspaper continues to perpetuate lies and half truths. Cannabis is already Oregon's largest cash crop. Vote Yes on Measure 80--for jobs and justice. Even those who may be opposed to this ballot measure know in their right minds: prohibition never works!